My family have this Le Creuset French Oven, among other Le Creuset pots and pans, but it will last you many years as has ours, which was handed down to us. The 'French Oven's expense is because of the high quality manufacture. A quick glance in Amazon shows how popular they are, many stars, enthusiastic comments.

Are you duplicating with the tagine? Different type of cooking, as the tagine is mostly for couscous and aromatics because of its funnel-type design. It all depends if you'd prefer to put the French Oven in the oven rather than leave it on top of the stove. We have a Lacanche range, so ours mostly stays put.

But there are bargains, so shop around. Just to caution you, but this French Oven is heavy. Add contents and lift from stovetop to oven, and you'll have muscles for sure.

I'm seriously considering getting a Le Creuset French Oven (which by my reading is a Dutch oven, by a French producer). Being reasonably expensive, I'm slightly apprehensive.

I currently own an Emile Henry tagine, and a Sunbeam electric frypan. Both are quite large and can be used for slow cooking. By considering a French oven, am I duplicating?

Ive read a lot of reviews on the Le Creuset range, and there's usually nothing short of glowing reports. Obviously people like them. I just wonder if its appropriate, given what I already have?

Thanks...

I have three of them and use them constantly. They do not duplicate a tagine or electric frypan in any way. You can use them for soups, stews, sauces, roasts, and even bread. You can deep fry in them. They can be used on stovetop or oven.

They are versatile and will last a lifetime. I very highly recommend one.

Look around for sales, though. They are always on sale somewhere. There are also LeCreuset outlet stores that sell cosmetic seconds and discontinued colors for trmendous discounts.

__________________Less is not more. More is more and more is fabulous.

An electric fry pan is somewhat shallow and a tangine is not used for things like soups and stews. No, you would not be duplicating by getting one. I have a 7.25 quart LC French oven and it is constantly in use. If I had to get rid of cooking vessel in my kitchen and keep just one then my LC is what I would keep.

I'm seriously considering getting a Le Creuset French Oven (which by my reading is a Dutch oven, by a French producer). Being reasonably expensive, I'm slightly apprehensive.

Is there a reason you want a Le Creuset French Oven specifically? I have been using a similar pot for years and I know very well that I paid a fraction of the cost they want. In my opinion, many people seem to get so hyped up over the name "Le Creuset" they loose any good sense of value. I think most serious cooks would love to have a "French Oven" like this, but I'm sure my Beef Bourgogne is not diminished because it's not prepared in the most expensive French oven on the market.

__________________Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away.

The difference between LC and some of the less expensive alternatives exist though.

One thing to take into consideration is craftsmanship. These are enameled cast iron we are talking about. The pot is only as good as the enameling. LC does a very good job in that area. My LC has not been babied and the enameling is still as good as it was the day I bought it. There are no chips anywhere. In some cheaper alternatives, the enameling would have chipped off already after it saw some of the spoon slaps this pot has seem.

Another thing to take into consideration is the amount of cast iron that is used (how thick the pot is). Lesser brands sometimes use less metal which means less density which means less heat retention. The reason CI is so good is because of its heat retaining properties. Not all CI pots are created equal.

I am by no means saying that you can not get a less expensive pot that is not as good or better than LC. I am saying that not all CI is equal though. Yes LC is very expensive. With that cost comes a great looking pot that is been proven to handle very well. You can absolutely get a CI pot for a fraction of the price and just as good if you know what you are looking at, but if you don't know then LC has proven itself many times over and is a safe bet if you have the $.

The difference between LC and some of the less expensive alternatives exist though.

One thing to take into consideration is craftsmanship. These are enameled cast iron we are talking about. The pot is only as good as the enameling. LC does a very good job in that area. My LC has not been babied and the enameling is still as good as it was the day I bought it. There are no chips anywhere. In some cheaper alternatives, the enameling would have chipped off already after it saw some of the spoon slaps this pot has seem.

Another thing to take into consideration is the amount of cast iron that is used (how thick the pot is). Lesser brands sometimes use less metal which means less density which means less heat retention. The reason CI is so good is because of its heat retaining properties. Not all CI pots are created equal.

I am by no means saying that you can not get a less expensive pot that is not as good or better than LC. I am saying that not all CI is equal though. Yes LC is very expensive. With that cost comes a great looking pot that is been proven to handle very well. You can absolutely get a CI pot for a fraction of the price and just as good if you know what you are looking at, but if you don't know then LC has proven itself many times over and is a safe bet if you have the $.

I agree. Plus LC guarantees for life.

One should never, ever pay full price for one, though. If you shop around you can buy LC for a fairly reasonable price -- sometimes for less than its counterpart products.

__________________Less is not more. More is more and more is fabulous.

I have some of the Danish Copco CI pots. They are beautiful (I think they are much prettier than the French ones.) Mine are yellow. I also have a "wok" in brown. The insides are white.

Mine are over 30 years old, but they aren't in as good of shape as I would like. Never let anyone wash them unsupervised until you know they will treat them well. Steel wool is not good for the finish. Neither is one of the curly metal scrubbers.

Also on the list of things that isn't good for them: having your house burn down, especially from a fire that starts in the kitchen You would think they could handle heat, since they can go in the oven. But, this fire was hot enough that my neighbours across the street were afraid there windows would crack!

__________________
May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live.
Robert A. Heinlein

How about Lodge? They're so much cheaper. Like their other Lodge CI I believe they're cast here in the U.S. but sent to China for enameling. They don't contain lead either.
Most likely not as well crafted as the LC but the price differences are significant.